The Joseph Factor 105

I am here for the second reason, which I think caused Joseph to be in a conundrum of fear and adversity. I choose to call this one:

2. The Fear of Receiving an Unmerited Gift

I have seen cases where people threw away opportunities because they felt they did not deserve them and someone else they thought was better should rather have them.

I am describing this fear based on the theory that Joseph knew the Child had been conceived “of the Holy Spirit,” and so he was afraid to take Mary as his wife. I want us to consider one ancient view that is often overlooked: Origen’s writings. Although his commentary on the first few chapters of Matthew’s Gospel has been lost, Aquinas preserves some of it in his famous Catena Aurea. This work is a running anthology of patristic opinions on the Gospel texts.

There, along with other interpretations, Thomas gives us Origen’s view:

“He sought to put her away, because he saw in her a great sacrament, to approach which he thought himself unworthy.” (Catena Aurea at Matt 1:19).

It must be noted that Thomas Aquinas later adopted Origen’s view as his own. In the Summa Theologica we read:

“Joseph was minded to put away the Blessed Virgin not as suspected of fornication, but because in reverence for her sanctity, he feared to cohabit with her.” (Summa Theologica, III, q. 3, a. 3 ad 2).

Consider this: If you were an ancient Jew with proper reverence for God, His temple, and all that He had deemed holy, and your wife had been found to be with child by the Holy Spirit, would you not also be hesitant about living with her?

Point is this: Some people have self-esteem issues or aren’t used to people doing anything nice for them, so they will reject any gift. They may feel like they haven’t done anything to deserve the gift, even if the person giving the gift feels otherwise. The more expensive or thoughtful the gift is, the more likely it is that someone will think they aren’t worth it. They will feel uncomfortable and even overwhelmed.

Note that: When it comes to God’s gifts, nobody deserves them. It’s not because we are holy or righteous—it is because God loves us and wants what’s best for us.

When God decides to give you a gift, don’t reject it because you feel unworthy. Accept it, thank Him, and move on.

Do not let the fear of receiving an unmerited gift make you walk away from your breakthrough.

…WATCH OUT FOR THE LAST TYPE OF FEAR JOSEPH HAD TO OVERCOME…